"And that is?" Helen waited for Winston to continue. She knew that his words were a spoken thought, rather than addressed directly to her.
"So long as Seymour remains away, no one can speak with assurance. Elijah knows that. He needs to feel firm ground under his feet. No one can put it there now." He paused a moment, then continued. "I'll do my best to straighten it out for him."
A messenger entered the office and handed a yellow envelope to Winston. He read the message and dismissed the boy.
"Seymour will be here tomorrow. We will soon be in a position to set Elijah on his feet I hope." Winston hesitated a moment, then went on deliberately. "I thought of having Elijah hunted up at once; but now I think it will be best to wait." He looked questioningly at Helen.
"I think you are right," she replied briefly.
Winston returned to the Rio Vista and went directly to Uncle Sid's room.
"Things are coming to a climax." He handed the message to Uncle Sid.
The old man's face had lost its humorous look. His shaggy eyebrows were lowered, only two bright sparks flashed from beneath them, steely hard.
"This mess is in a fair way o' bein' settled now, an' it ain't a minute too soon, either. 'Lige ain't goin' to stand this always."
"What had we better do first?"